Established in Sherman in 1950, The Rehabilitation Center has now served the North Texas area for more than 68 years. The center first opened its doors in a small school house on Woods Street, moving to a larger building on Crockett Street seven years later. With demand of its services ever-growing, The Rehab Center moved again in 1961 to its current home at Sherman’s Hospital Hill.

“We have such a long and storied history in Sherman––t’s been our home from the start,” says current Rehabilitation Center Executive Director Tammy Johnson. “And for all of that time, we have remained dedicated to our goal of helping those in need of our services.”

One of those services is the LSVT (Parkinson’s) Treatment.

While you’ve likely heard of Parkinson’s disease, many people don’t know exactly what the condition is or how it manifests itself. The condition can occur when there is a loss of brain cells that produce a chemical called dopamine. It usually presents in people over the age of 60, but it can present earlier in life as well. About 500,000 people in the U.S. have Parkinson’s disease, with about 50,000 people being diagnosed each year, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

A relatively new approach to treatment of Parkinson’s disease involves the concept of neuroplasticity––the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. The approach aims to address the “internal” aspects of Parkinson’s disease symptoms, leading to significant functional improvements.

For decades, the Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) has been an effective way to treat the symptoms of impaired voice and swallowing form Parkinson’s Disease. In 2002, the LSVT-BIG protocol was initiated, as a research-based exercise approach to be given by specially-trained therapists. Patients are shown specific exercises that involve large amplitude, exaggerated movement patterns, leading to smoother, larger, safer movements and improved quality of life.

The goal of all of this work is that patients will learn to use their “big movements” automatically,

in everyday living. This will be a result of long-term carry-over of the amplitude training. By maintaining larger movements, patients will move better, with more confidence and safety. Similarly, with the LSVT program, patients maintain improved speech patterns and volume. Together, LSVT, can help improve the quality of life and potentially reduce the burden of care for people with Parkinson’s.

“The work to recover from anything is almost always tedious and difficult,” says Johnson. “But we have an absolutely wonderful staff of therapists and pathologists who believe deeply in what they do here, and are committed to helping patients succeed in meeting their goals.”

The Rehabilitation Center is a non-profit and relies heavily on the financial support of our community, and would like to invite you to the annual fundraiser Moulin Rouge on Saturday, November 3, 2018. Moulin Rouge promises to be one of the most anticipated events in Texoma, as the evening will kick off at the beautiful Willowood Ranch with a live jazz band, cabaret dancing and French cuisine. Sponsorships are limited so reserve yours today!

“The way that the local community comes together to support The Rehabilitation Center––both in terms of financial support and in terms of governance––is just extraordinary,” says Johnson with a smile. “From the very beginning and for nearly 70 years now, this organization and those who guide it have understood the importance of having these types of services available to our citizens.

“It’s unquestionable because of them that we are able to do what we do. There’s no question that they help us save lives.”

If you would like to learn more about The Rehabilitation Center or inquire about how you can help support their efforts, please visit their website at www.TRCSherman.com, or email Tammy Johnson at Tammy@there habcenter.net.

Related Articles

When Baby Doesn’t Speak? By Beth Appleby, M.Ed. It is always amazing and exciting to hear baby’s first babbles and coos. The phone comes out and recordings get posted all over social media. How exciting […]

A Place to Recover Courtesy The Rehabilitation Center For nearly seven decades, patients in need of rehabilitation in the North Texas area have not had to worry about whether or not they could afford to […]